Hello to all... I am new to this forum, but very much interested in talking to people who have been through the same thing I am going to be going through soon.

I have been constipated since birth... in some ways I guess that is a good thing because aside from distention and some abdominal pain, I am not that miserable... being I have always been this way.

I had the colonc transit test, and failed miserably. I have been telling docs for years about this problem, and every one has belittled it until this year. I had a colonoscopy finally in May after a Herculian effort. The prep did NOT do a thing, and I ended up having to starve for 4 days and have 15 tap water enemas.

Anyways... the verdict is for a colectomy. Subtotal I believe because they are planning on keeping my rectum in tact. I dont have any other disease, just slow stupid colon! Just have to have the defectography and emg done in the next month and surgery will happen.

I have a million questions....

How long in the hospital? How miserable or how much pain? Bigger question to me is this... eating? Can you eat afterwards or are you limited? Will I lose weight (I can admit I am a little bit overweight at this time... weight loss would be a small positive in this sea of bad things) How long till I feel strong and able to go back to work?

I am sure these comments have been addressed somewhere on this site... but I would love to chat with someone.

Hi Emma--I had surgery for colonic inertia 5 1/2 weeks ago and am feeling pretty good energy wise....still eating a pretty soft diet. If you go back and read the threads--Total Colectomy, Total colectomy Part 2 and Total colectomy Part 3 you will find a wealth of information. It's a lot of reading, but well worth it...many woman who have suffered like you and are now going and very happy! Sara